The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks, by Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt, is the world's longest running musical- running for over 52 years in Manhattan and entrancing generations of audiences the world over.

The Fantasticks is a funny and romantic musical about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. The narrator, El Gallo, originally played by Jerry Orbach, asks the audience to use their imagination and follow him into a world of moonlight and magic. The boy and the girl fall in love, grow apart, and finally find their way back to each other after realizing the truth in El Gallo's words that "without a hurt, the heart is hollow."

The famous score, which includes the classics Try To Remember, They Were You and Soon It's Gonna Rain, is as timeless as the story itself.

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Playwright Tom Jones is making some changes to his 57-year-old musical THE FANTASTICKS. Mr. Jones has done a little bit of rewriting of the musical number "Round and Round" which he has always felt never quite conveyed the darker elements he intended.

John O'Hurley, the New York Times Best Selling Author and Screen Actor's Guild Award Winner for his role as J. Peterman on 'Seinfeld,' the #1 syndicated television show in the world is headed to Off Broadway's Jerry Orbach Theatre at the Theatre Center, joining the cast of the longest running musical in the world, THE FANTASTICKS this holiday season. The show's producers, Al Parinello and Catherine Russell have announced that Mr. O'Hurley will be taking on the role of the dashing narrator el Gallo for a limited engagement that begins on Monday, December 12th and concludes Sunday, January 1st.

Peter Reckell, the Emmy nominated actor best known for playing Bo Brady, a role he originated in 1981 on the NBC drama Days of Our Lives, will take on the role of the suave and charismatic El Gallo when he joins the cast of the long running musical THE FANTASTICKS in a limited engagement that begins on September 5th and runs through September 25th the show's producers, Al Parinello and Catherine Russell announced today. This isn't the first time the he's performed in the show. Mr. Reckell played the role of The Mute (and covered The Boy) 35 years ago, in the Sullivan Street Production.

Many years ago he played the role of The Mute and Matt in the Sullivan Street Production of THE FANTASTICKS. Today, Reckell speaks exclusively with BWW about the challenges and rewards of returning to the stage after a thirty-five year absence!

Peter Reckell, the Emmy nominated actor best known for playing Bo Brady, a role he originated in 1981 on the NBC drama Days of Our Lives, will take on the role of the suave and charismatic El Gallo when he joins the cast of the long running musical THE FANTASTICKS in a limited engagement that begins on September 5th and runs through September 25th the show's producers, Al Parinello and Catherine Russell announced today.

Actor Shavey Brown will be making his Off Broadway debut when he joins the cast of the long running musical THE FANTASTICKS on Monday March 28 - and making theatrical history, as he will be the second African American - and the first since 1977 - to step into the role of El Gallo since the production began performing 56 years ago, say the shows producers, Al Parinello and Catherine Russell.

What do you give to the person with everything? The Jerry Orbach Theater (1627 Broadway), home to the longest running musical in the world, THE FANTASTICKS, believes the best present might be the magic of theater as they announces a first of its kind "SEAT OWNERSHIP AT THE FANTASTICKS" program. Much like the subscription style table sharing system that is employed at the world famous NYC restaurant RAO's where loyal customers have their own tables, fans of the show will be able to choose their seat of choice for any 12 performances throughout one year's time, specially designated with a plaque on that seat. Subscribers will be able to transfer tickets to friends or family or co-workers, should they choose. The subscription fee is $500.

On a rainy night in September, at Northside United Methodist Church, magic was created. The Fantasticks ran, this weekend, and left audiences with memories that'll last a lifetime. As the opening song suggests, "Try to remember the kind of September, when life was so tender." Yes, tender moments were truly felt.

Broadway in Bryan Park continued its 2015 program on Thursday - and BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the first day. This week's line-up included performances from the casts of MATILDA, LES MISERABLES, THE FANTASTICKS, ON THE TOWN and HAPPY 50ISH.
Below, watch as Edward Watts, William Thomas Evans, Philip Hoffman, Daniel Berryman and Samantha Bruce perform The Fantasticks' 'Try to Remember,' 'Never Say No,' and 'Soon It's Gonna Rain.'

Broadway and film actor Max Crumm (Easy A, Grease) has signed on to join the cast of The Fantasticks, in the lead role of 'Matt/The Boy', producers Al Parinello and Catherine Russell have announced. He will start performances tonight, July 8.